ST. PAUL, Minn.---The last time an Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) men’s tennis team saw the hard court for dual competition was March 13, 2020, as the University of Northwestern participated in a non-conference match in sunny Florida over spring break.
Nearly a year later, the prospect of traditional spring break trips to warm climates seem far off for UMAC tennis teams given the ongoing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, one positive among a year of challenges is the positive outlook for the upcoming UMAC conference tennis season that is set to begin in just a few short weeks for many programs.
With the hopes of actually being able to collect a conference trophy this season, the UMAC men’s tennis coaches predicted the upcoming 2021 season would still belong to the College of St. Scholastica as it topped the UMAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll with 48 points and six first-place votes, it was announced Wednesday.
In the history of UMAC men’s tennis, the Saints are the lone program to capture a regular season conference title. In their final UMAC season, the Saints are poised for another one and will look for back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances with the return of two-time All-UMAC performer Elliot Schneider to lead the way. All-UMAC selections Rafa Gonzalez and Jack Kearney will also help the veteran squad in its attempt to hold on to the conference title.
The Saints should be challenged by annual postseason contenders in Northwestern and University of Wisconsin-Superior. The Eagles edged out the Yellowjackets for second place with 42 points and a first-place nod. Wisconsin-Superior was third with 39 points and one first-place vote.
Northwestern upset the Saints in the conference tournament in 2018 and hopes for some of that same magic heading into 2021. The Eagles will look to senior Davis Pfaff who was a part of that NCAA tourney squad and was an All-UMAC selection as a sophomore in 2019.
Wisconsin-Superior hopes that 2021 could be its first season to earn a UMAC title since beginning the program in 2018. Senior Will Sherman brings experience to the Yellowjacket squad, while sophomore Michael Janes hopes for a strong season after going 3-0 in his shortened rookie season.
Martin Luther College hopes to have back-to-back postseason appearances as the coaches predict – the Knights tallied 27 points to finish fourth in the poll. The Knights bring back experienced players in Seth Koelpin and Jonah Schulz who each tallied at least seven singles wins in 2019.
The University of Minnesota Morris was close behind in the poll with 23 points for fifth place. Senior Jack Flicker should help the team battle for a postseason spot along with sophomores Nick Garmin and Taiyo Larson.
The rest of the poll rounds out with Bethany Lutheran College in sixth (19), Crown College in seventh (17) and North Central University in eighth (9). The Vikings will look rely on veteran junior Noah Gernander to lead an inexperienced squad of new faces. Crown looks for continued improvement with returner Andrew Moorse set for a significant role. North Central will be led by second-year Head Coach David Stabley to help the team continue to improve.
Some UMAC teams are slated to begin non-conference play in mid-February with conference matches slated throughout the spring. The conference tournament is slated for Monday, May 3 (semifinals) and Friday, May 7 (championship) with the winner earning the conference’s automatic qualifying bid to the NCAA tournament.
| Pl. | School | Pts. |
| 1. | St. Scholastica | 48 (6) |
| 2. | Northwestern | 42 (1) |
| 3. | Wisconsin-Superior | 39 (1) |
| 4. | Martin Luther | 27 |
| 5. | Minnesota Morris | 23 |
| 6. | Bethany Lutheran | 19 |
| 7. | Crown | 17 |
| 8. | North Central | 9 |